1. A recreational sport in which people tour through wooded trails at a leisurely pace.

2. A grueling competitive sport in which skiers, using classical or freestyle technique, try their best to mentally and physically outperform other skiers. Europe, especially Scandinavia, tends to have the best skiers.

3. A high school and college sport (assuming you live in a snowy enough area) that tends to attract cross country runners, soccer players, attractive girls, and, in my experience, Latin students.

Cross country skiing is a nice way to get around.

Thousands of cross country skiers compete in the American Birkebeiner in Cable, Wisconsin.

A sport designed for people who like the cold, hills and exercise induced asthma. Some find it fun, but for most it closely resembles some form of personal hell. It is very common to have some type of traumatic childhood experience associated with a forest, the cold, exhaustion and having wooden boards strapped to your feet. Although frequently associated with old people, and knits, it is the second most popular winter sport globally. The vast majority of racers are men.

Oh yeah, and it also is the sport that produces the most fit athletes. Period.

Person 1: Hey want to go cross country skiing?
Person 2: HELL NO! When I was 12, my mom took me cross country skiing, and it was so hard and tiring and I almost died. I swore I would NEVER do that again.

An excellent alternative for people too old and/or scared to learn downhill skiing. It is usually done by nordic style walking on trails, some that go up or downhill, or waxed skis that allow you to ski like you're ice skating. Many cold weather cities have beautiful and pleasant trails.